Public health surveillance is the on-going systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data. It includes the timely dissemination of the resulting information to those who need them for action. Surveillance is also essential for planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practise.

The Protection of the Human Environment Programme provides guidance and technical support to Member States of the WHO African Region to formulate, implement, monitor and evaluate policies, strategies and action plans that are effective in addressing health and environment linkages, in view of achieving the MDGs and in the context of the Libreville Declaration on health and environment in Africa.